Two-way lace curtain



March 6, 1945. l L F|5||EL 2,371,039

TWO-WAY LACE CURTAIN Filed Sept. 5, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 is, 'Y

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ATTORN FY March 6, 1945. L, HSCHEL 2,371,039

Two-wAY LACE CURTAIN r Filed sept; 5, 1942 a sheets-sheet 2 ff .2f

A ORNEY March 6, 1945. L. HSCHEL 371,039

TWO-WAY LACE CURTAIN Filed Sept. 5, 1942 3 Sheets-SheetY 3 INVENTOR LESTER FlscHeL. ,ze

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ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 6, 1945 Two-WAY LACE cUn'rAm Lester Fiscl'iel, New York, N. Y., assignor to `Iatchogue-Plymouth Mills Corporation, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationScptember 5, 1942, Serial No. 457,419

' 7 claims. (c1. 16o- 385) This invention relates to a two-way lace curtain, particularly to a two-way Nottingham lace curtain. It is especially applicable to a two-way Nottingham lace curtain either of vthe ready-tohang or of the adjustable ready-to-hang type, such as are disclosed generally in my prior Patent U. S. 2,149,011, granted February 28, 1939.

Nottingham lace curtains are commonly woven in several diierent standard lengths and in different widths, thus being designed, when nished, to t windows of diierent sizes. yLace curtains are also woven in diierent widths to produce pair goods and panels. Generally speaking, lace curtain goods having a loomwidth not exceeding 40 inches, are classed as pair goods, and lace curtain goods exceeding 40 inches loom width are classed as panels. 'The width ofV a curtain is an important factor in the cost of production and therefore in the selling price, sothat ordinarily two panels are more expensive than a pair of curtains of the same style, quality and length. A panel curtain is not readily adaptable for subdivision into pair goods, because if a panel curtain were thus subdivided the lace fabric would unravel, unless the lace fabric 'were of vsuch .a character that it could be eiectively and promptly hemmed; and a panel curtain which produces the most effective eye-appearance when draped in panel form completely across a window of appropriate width, is less eiective in eye-appearance when draped across only one-half of the widthof the said window to form one-half of -a pair of curtains composed of two matched full size panel curtains, because whentwo panels are thus draped full size, the window presents van overcurtained appearance. f

The object of this invention is a two-way Nottingham lace curtain, which is normally readyto-hang in one way-in 'panelform at a window of suitable width, but which can be quickly separated without impairing the fabric, the weave, the pattern, `or the finish of the goods, into a second Way, wherein said vformer panel now vconstitutes two matching curtains, each of narrower or half-panel width, completely finished and ready-to-hang as a pair of `curtains, at the same window as before.

.Another object is a ready-to-hang curtain which may be converted from panel to pair ygoodsv form, without any additional cost or substantial effort, on the housewifes part.

Another object is a curtain which is so woven that when cut lengthwise to'separate it into sections forms two or more finished matched curtains, which are `readyior hanging immediately as pair goods. f

Other objects will appear from the detailed description,

In accordance with this invention the curtain is Woven on the loom, preferably in the form of a ready-to-hang panel curtain, consisting of at least two sub-panels, united together throughout the length ofthe warp by at least one drawthread, which may be a spool thread, so that by withdrawing the draw-thread the said panel is instantly subdivided into at least two matched sub-panels which can be grouped in pairs to form y fully finished ready-to-hang pair goods. n i

In the drawings comprising three sheets of eight (8) gures numbered Figures lto 8 inclusive: v

Fig. 1 is a front viewV of an adjustable readyto-hang Nottingham lace curtain woven in the form of a panel curtain, showing enough of the weave, and patternof the nished curtain fabric,

to :disclose my invention generally. f

Fig. 2 is an end view of the curtain of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a front view lof a fragment of the lace fabricof the curtain of Fig. 1 enlarged to morei clearly illustrate the draw-thread before it is removed.

Fig. l4 is a front view-.of the fragment of lace fabric of Fig. 2, with the vdraw-thread partly removed to partially `separate the lace fabric into` two distinct but matched (left and right) sections.

Fig. 5 is a detailed View of the weave construction.

the lace curtain of Fig. 1 adjustably threaded `in panel form upon a suspension rod.

Fig. '7 is a, front view of the central fragment of the panel curtain of Fig. 6, separated into twov matched (left and right) half-panels and threaded upon a suspension rod to illustrate Aintermediate length adjustment as pair goods.; and

Fig. 8 is a ,front 'View of a fragmentoi a lacej curtain embodying my invention in a panel curtain having a hemmed passageway. 1

Like reference characters designate corre-y Fig. 6 is a front View of Ia central fragment of 1, the lace panel curtain of curtains.

sub-panel. Lace heading 2U may be constructed so as to include one -or more rod engaging passageways, to make the `curtain of the ready-tohang type. The passageway may consist of a row of horizontally spaced slots I8, woven in the lace heading 2U as a part of the pattern, said slots being elongated and large enough to be threadable upon the conventional curtain rod 3l) (Fig. 6). `The side edges of curtain Ill (Fig. 1) are finished off with a non-ravelling edge 36 of any selected type. The curtain I may be of any preferred weave, such as double action, combination goods, or filet. The pattern or design woven in the sub-panel I2 is a reverse replica of the pattern or design woven in the sub-panel II, so

that theftwo halves complement one another in,

all respects.

Groups of warp threads (Fig. positioned upon opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the curtain I0, are clothed to form two separate and distinct spaced bands of clothing defining two spaced but parallel selvage edges 23 and 25 (Figs. 1 and 3), which are secured toi being secured at spaced intervals to the warp threads 3'! and 38 of said selvage edges 23 and 25 (Fig. 5), in any suitable manner which permits the thread 2a to be drawn out by hand (Fig. 4),

so as to separate lace curtain I0 without injury to the lace fabric into two completely finished and distinct narrower curtainsor half-panels II and I2, of complementary pattern. By this simple withdrawal operation of the draw thread 24, the panel curtain I0 and its balanced pattern (Fig. l), is for all practical purposes, converted without injury, into a finished pair of curtains consisting of two (left and right) half-panels, each half-panel being substantially one-half the width of the original panel curtain I0 from which it was separated, the p attern in the right halfpanel being a yreverse replica of the pattern in to-hang from a curtain rod 30 (Fig. 7), as a pair the selvage edges 23 `and 25 in such a manner that it can be broken anddrawn'out by hand,

` without unravelling or otherwise damaging any portion of the lace fabric thereafter remaining, unbalancing the pattern, or impairing the finished appearance of. the lacework. The only material change effected by withdrawing thread 24 being the physical separation of the panel The spool thread 24 is woven into l the left-half panel, the two half-panel (or halfpair) curtains being identical in all. other respects, and being completely finished and ready- 1 As the'narrow curtains match, or havevcomple- A mentary patterns, they may be hung as pair goods or pairs of curtains, without any indication that they were formerly adjoining sections of a panel curtain.

While the invention has been described as applied to a ready-to-hang curtain, it may be applied with equal ease to an adjustable readyto-hang curtain, such as is disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7.v When the invention is embodied in a ready-to-hang curtain of the adjustable type, two or more rows of horizontally spaced slots I8, I6, I4, are woven in the lace heading 2G. To compensate for shrinkage which takes place in the lace curtain I0 when it is washed and laundered for the first time, the slots, I8, I5, I4,

may be spaced on vertical centers, such that the distance between the adjacent rows of slots (I8, I 6, I4) when measured vertically between centers, substantially corresponds to the amount of shrinkage which takes place when the curtain is rst washed and laundered by the housewife.

If it is desired to compensate for the cumulative effect of shrinkage throughout the useful life of the curtain, due to repeated washing and laundering, the lace heading 20 may be woven suciently long to include one or more additional rows of slots I4 (Fig. 1) woven therein, so that the lace curtain I0 will be adjustable to at leastthree dilerent lengths, designated for convenience minimum length, intermediatelength, andmaximum length, corresponding to suspension from the lowermost row of slots I8, the intermediate row of slots I6, and the uppermost row' of slots I4, respectively. When the curtain is adjusted to intermediate or to minimum length, the

heading is folded over midway between the rows,

of slots I4, I6, and I8, either once, or twice, as the case'may be, to bring each slot I 4 into registry with the corresponding slot IB (and I8), to form a common slotted passageway through which a curtain rod may be threaded thus vlocking the folded heading 20 against change of curtain length, while simultaneously producing an ornamental heading for the curtain above and below the curtain rod.l

Rows of openwork I5 and I7, may be woven in transverse median line between the rows of slotsVA I4-IB, Iii-I8, so that when the curtain is folded over (and over) along said median line(s) as the line(s) of fold, the two halves of thefolded' v openwork will register optically, and form an indented edge band fory the heading either above, or above and below the curtain rod. The upper -extremityof the curtain may be finished oi with 4I of the curtain may similarly'be finished off curtain I0 into two narr-ower or half-panel curtains, ready-to-hang upon acurtainrod 39 (Fig. 7) as pair goods.

My invention may therefore be quite properly 3 referred to as a two-way curtain, because while curtains, which, unless soiled, are ready to be.

hung immediately at the same window as before.

by hemming at 42. 22-22, 2li-26, 21-2I, on 'each row are spaced relatively close together and in closeY proximity to the ,edges and prospective edges of the curtain. By this arrangement the edges of the cur'- tain closely hug the curtain rod 38. l

The heading 25J of the adjustable ready-tohang panel curtain I (l of Fig. 1, may be folded over and over, tobringthe several rows of slots in the triple ply formed fold into co-operative registry, and the slots are then threaded upon curtain rod 3U, and thepanel is draped substantially as shown in Fig. 6.

Removing the draw-thread 24 (Fig. 4)., sub-1k The first and last two slots divides panel curtain HJ into two matching 'iinished adjustable ready-to-hang curtains y(see Fig. 7). The headings 2D `may be vfolded over and over as before to for-m triplekp'ly folds, and the halfpanels vIl and i2, `may be threaded upon curtain rod 13D, and draped at the window as a pair of curtains.

After the curtain is washed and laundered for the rst time it will be several inches shorter than before. To compensate for this shrinkage, the heading 2B may be folded lover toforma double ply fold, and threaded upon the curtain rod 30 with the lowerrnost row of slots 8 exposed Fig, 7. After repeatedwashings the curtain will shrink still further, and 'to compensate for this additional shrinkage the curtain maybe threaded upon the curtain rod al) from the 'uppermost row of slots I4 only.

The invention may likewise be applied (Fig. 8) to a panel curtain 3i having a hemmed Arodengaging passageway .32, secured in place 'with lines of hemstitching 29 and 33. The curtain rod 30 is threaded through the passageway '32. To

subdivide panel curtain 3l into two sub-panels` 34 and 43&3, the draw-thread 24 is withdrawn, to form two half-curtains 34 and 35. The groups of warp threads upon opposite sides of drawthread 24, are clothed to form .two parallel spaced bands of clothing defining two separate selvages,

which become the Yinner selvage edges of the two half-curtains 34 and 35 (Fig. 8) after drawthread 24 is withdrawn.

The spaced manner of weaving the draw thread 24, leaves the central space between warp threads 31 and 38 relatively open throughout thel length of the curtain Ill (Fig. 1), so that when the curtain I is hung in panel form upon curtain rod 30 (Fig. 6), the heavily clothed edges 23 and 25,4 with the rela-tively uri-clothed space in between gives the panel curtain i8 the eye-appearance of a. pair of curtains with their adjacent edges drawn close together.

What is claimed is:

l. As a new article of manufacture, a two-inone lace curtain, said curtain containing a plurality of pre-fabricated sub-sections of lesser width than said article, said sub-sections having their adjacent side edges woven parallel to the warp and in spaced relation to each other, each of said adjacent side edges including a. band of clothing forming a part of its sub-section pattern, said sub-sections being complementary and their patterns in conjunction forming one balanced whole, a removable draw-thread woven between adjacent sub-sections of the fabric and secured in said bands of clothing at spaced intervals to unite said sub-sections into a panel curtain, said draw-thread simulating a-part of the pattern of said panel, said article being convertible by the removal of said draw-thread, without injury to,

or further wastage of, the fabric, from a panel,

into a matched pair of curtains, and said bands of clothing thereupon constituting non-ravelling selvage edges for said pair of curtains.

2. A two-in-1one lace curtain normally constin tuting a panel curtain, said panel having a body portion and a heading woven in one piece, a rodengaging passageway formed in said heading to make said curtain ready to hang in panel form, said panel as fabricated consisting of a plurality of adjoining blanks, said blanks being readily convertible into narrower, but nished, matched, and complementary, ready-to-hang curtains, the pattern of each blank being a reversereplica of one other blank, a band of clothing woven along thread without injury to, or further wastage of,

the fabric, into a matched pair of ready-to-hang curtains, and the bands of clothing constituting non-ravelling selvage edges therefor.

3. A two-in-one lac-e curtain having nonravelling finished edges, a body portion and a heading woven in one piece, a row of slots formed in the heading, said slots being threadable upon a curtain rod to drape said curtain as a panel, said body and said heading consisting of a plurality of adjoined blanks, each blank being readily convertible into a relatively narrow ready-to-hang half-pair curtain, the pattern of one blank being a reverse replica of an adjoining blank, a band of clothing woven along the adjoining edges of each blank, la removable drawthreed'woven between adjoining blanks and secured to the warp threads thereof at spaced 'in tervals to unite said blanks 'into one ready-tohang panel, the patterns of said blanks inl conjunction forming one balanced whole, said ydrawrthread simulating a part of the panel pattern,

said blanks being convertible by the removal of said draw-thread, without injury to, or wastage i of, any of 'the fabric thereafter remaining, into the complementary halv-es of a finished, matched pair of ready-to-hang' curtains with the bands `of clothing forming certain non-ravelling selvage edges thereof.

4. A two-in-one lace curtain of the class described having a body portion and a heading woven in one piece, said heading including a one balanced whole, said draw-thread simulating a part of and completing the panel pattern, each blank being convertible by the removal of its draw-thread, without injury to, or wastage of, any

of the fabric thereafter remaining, into one-half ,l

of a finished, matched pair of ready-to-hang curtains, and said bands of clothing constituting certain non-ravelling selvage edges therefor.

5. A two-in-one adjustable lace curtain of the class described having a body portion and a heading woven in one -pi-ece, all of the edges thereof being iinished to prevent unravelling, a plurality of rows of slots woven in the heading, one row o f slots being woven adjacent the line of merger of the body and the heading, and another adjacent the upper extremity of the heading, said rows of slots being variously threadable upon a curtain rod to make said curtain ready to hang as a panel and adjustable to different lengths, said panel containing two blanks readily convertible into `a pair of ready-to-hang adjustable curtains, the pattern of one blank being a reverse 4 t replica of that of the other blank, a band of clothing woven along the adjoining edges of the blanks, a. removable draw-thread extending from one vblank to the other, other threads for securing said draw-thread to the Warp to unite said blanks l into one ready-to-hang adjustable curtain, the

patterns of the blanks when united forming one` balanced whole, said draw-thread simulating a part of and completing ,the panel pattern, said draw-thread, being manually removable without injury to, or wastage of, any of the fabric thereafter remaining, to convert said blanks into a nsaid curtain ready-to-hang in panel form, said panel as thus fabricated being a completely iinished article consisting of two adjoining blanks, the pattern of one of said blanks being a reverse replica of the other blank, a removable drawthread woven .between said blanks and secured l to the warp threads thereof at spaced intervals to complete the ready-to-hang panel curtain,

said ready-to-hang panel curtain being convertible by merely removing said' draw-thread withwith all of their edges finished to prevent unravelling thereof.

'7.,As a new article of manufacture, a lace panel curtain, said panel curtain having a body portion and a surplus fabric top portion merging with the upper end of the body portion and in extension thereof, said body and top portions being'woven in one piece and'having all edges finished to prevent unravelling, a plurality of rows of slots woven in said surplus fabric top portion as a part of the pattern,one of `said rows of slots being Woven adjacent the line of merger of the body and top portions and another adjacent the upper extremity of the top portion, said rows of slots being variously threadable upon a curtain rod to make said curtain ready-tohang at diiferent length adjustments, said panel out injury to, or further wastage of, the fabric, i

into a matched pair of ready-to-hang curtains curtain as fabricated .consisting of two adjoin ing lace blanks, the pattern of one of said-blanks being a reverse replica of the other blank, a removable draw-thread woven between said blanks and secured to the warp threads thereof at spaced intervals to complete the panel curtain, the patterns of said blanks in conjunction and said draw-thread, forming one balanced whole, and said ready-to-hang panel curtain being convertible by merely removing said draw-thread, without injury to, or further wastage of, the fabric, into a matched pair of adjustable readyto-hang curtains, with all of the edges of each curtain of said. matched pair nished to prevent unravelling of the fabric. j

LESTER FISCHEL. 

